wrldtraveller

I have a question that is niggling my mind. I saw a couple of clips on youtube of people touring across the country of Canada and Usa. even going as far as from Alaska all the way to Argentina. I've read some biography of people touring the country, and I've been bitten by the wanderlust bug big time. My question is when you do go on one of those long distance tours, what motivate you to keep going? Its a mystery for me because I truly love cycling for hours and hours, but its different when you are cycling on a city pathway where the scenery isn't the same one hour from now. When you are cycling on a highway going to God knows where, it can become monotonous especially if you ride across the prairies. How do you keep going and keep sane?

A dreamer (Wondering if I am willing to take the bait and get out of my car and on my bicycle for some long distance travelling)

Wrldtraveller.

TallTourist

So many things are motivating on a tour, here's a handful that stick out for me:

People are nicer to touring cyclists than they are to other cyclists, not always, but enough to make you smile. People smile and wave at you from their cars as they pass or offer you food and drink (though not while driving ). Often people will let you stay in their homes or at least camp on their land, I think the romanticism of a touring cyclist's life just endears you to them.

You get to see more countries than the average person because your only expenses are food related and maybe camping fees or whatever. It's much cheaper than conventional travel.

You're not working, how can that not make you happy?

I'm sure riding across the prairies would be dreadfully boring, it's dreadfully boring at 100km/h with air conditioning and a stereo. If I were ever to ride across Canada I would skip the prairies. I'd fly from Calgary to Toronto and skip the unpleasantness.

Food! Even if you do decide to ride through the large, perfunctory expanse that is the plains you'll be motivated by that next greasy cheeseburger and coffee at the next little diner. Or healthier food if you're not in North America. You could also bring an iPod or whatever but the prairies are just toil.


Definitely get out of your car and go touring, North America is good for some shorter tours IMO but if you want to go really long I recommend Western Europe. The food is better (except in the UK, avoid the UK) the architecture is amazing, there's so much more history, there's usually a town every 20 kilometers or so and the people you meet are way more friendly and interesting.

Oh another thing: you know when you're traveling somewhere by car or train or whatever and you see someone interesting? It's a lot harder to meet them when you're rocketing past at 50-120 kms/h On a bike you can just roll up and say "hi". You meet a lot of interesting people this way

Leebo

If you have to ask, maybe it's not for you.

wrldtraveller

well. I had to ask because like I mentioned, I've been bitten by the bug. You are right, I think it is more interesting in Europe because there are more countries to visit, and pretty much each country have their own food, architecture, and culture. while Canada can be dull as if Im in B.C. It is wow, amazing to be in, but the architecture, culture, and food, pretty much stays the same from one end of the coast to the other end of the coast. and Canada is the 2nd largest country in the world. Of course, there are some small differences in culture for example, if you happen to visit Newfoundland, and Victoria, B.C.

Touring the country by bicycle has been on my mind for a while, I first got the idea when I met a friend in USA, and he mentioned that he would love to ride across USA and it was a novel idea. Then I spent the summer in Minnesota, and did 3 day bike trip, and it was a different experience, you get to see more. Besides, I've grown a bit bored of the city pathways seeing how I could just ride 50 km in 3 hours. sometimes less.

Eventually I will plan a short bike tour in Banff National Park and see how that feels like, then take the next step.

If you would like, can you mention what impacted you the most while you were on a bike touring trip?

Wrldtraveller

fietsbob

I liked touring the British Isles and Northern Europe . I stop and have a drink with the Locals

Flew over with my Bike and Gear and Bought a Paper Map in the 1st towns Book Shop.

TallTourist

Haha, I'm glad I'm not the only one unimpressed by BC's architecture "oh look, another green glass building". Calgary has a few cool buildings though, like that one with the blue glass and the giant wire head sculpture out front. Winnipeg has some older stone buildings from the era when banks were made to look like they had integrity, I think they look pretty cool. Quebec City has the Chateau Frontenac and the Citadel right by the Plains of Abraham so that's pretty wicked. The Maritimes look pretty charming. I think if I ever tour here again I'll just fly straight to Montreal or Quebec City and head up the Gaspe peninsula. I heard it's breathtaking and a fairly curvy road.

What impacted me most on a bike tour was going in to France. First full day there I woke up stealth camped beside a WW2 Artillery position and watched the sun come up over beautiful blue water and impossibly green fields. The air was like drugs it smelled so good and was the perfect temperature. Riding in a t-shirt I stood up on my pedals and leaned forward. My bike was out of my peripheral view as I coasted down a slight hill and my nose and eyes were overwhelmed with beauty, felt like a bird soaring. Shortly after that I did some nice tight corners and went down a steep hill into a charming little town filled with old stone buildings, everything conveying a sense of well-manicured permanence and integrity. It was the exact opposite of Western Canada, haha.

Cyclebum

Ok. You're not gonna do anything without sufficient motivation. Certainly not a 50 mile/day bike ride, day after day. What the hell would motivate anybody to do that? Who knows. All I can say is that for me, it's fun and/or rewarding. Maybe it'll be for you. Won't know 'til you do it. Be careful, it can be addictive.

I'm most impacted by the people I meet, the unexpected mini-adventures, and reaching the goal I set for myself. My most memorable tour was my first long one, 1200 miles. My best day on tour is here.

Just do it.

staehpj1

I find that once the motivation to get started is there and I go, the routine of riding day after day kicks in.

boomhauer

^^^ this!
For me, I miss being in really good shape. I always start out slow but after day four I can really start to feel myself getting stronger. I'm on tour now and after 40 miles this morning on nothing more than a can of peaches (in heavy syrup) I can say I've reached my goal.

dengidog

People. The kindness of strangers will amaze you. Even with only a few short tours under my belt (and one longer one), it's addictive. I'm normally a bit introverted, but you can't be when on the road. Yes, there are always few ugly/strange folks, but they're few and far between. It restores your faith...honestly.

wrldtraveller

Thank you all for the great responses, I truly envy europe as the towns there are close together so easy to take a break. Here in Canada, the towns are far between. one example in banff, Saskatchewan crossing (small convenience town) to town of Jasper is about 238 km, and nothing between except the occasional campgrounds.

I am a fan of old world architecture, not modern architecture so Europe is probably on my bucket list some day. Modern architecture is too bland and dull for me.

Another example of distance, is Calgary to Tofino, b.c (To touch the pacific ocean) is 1270 km (14 hours by car) probably more km by bike as I don't think I would ride bicycle on the Coquihalla highway.
In Europe, for that much distance, you probably cross 4 different countries, with 4 different culture, architecture, landscape, and food.

Oh well, to each his own. One day I will partake in that challenge of taking a bike trip to truly explore my home country.

wrldtraveller.

adventurepdx

Nothing...except some of the most spectacular scenery in all of North America!

shipwreck

I actually really like riding day after day on the endless prairies, in between cities or towns.Sometimes there can be very little sign of civilization from where you are, other than a vapor trail in the sky and the road itself.
It’s the most incredible feeling of solitude and for me validates the act of touring.

I kind of dream of riding across Canada, just for that feeling.


Its seldom actually that isolating though. The only way to find out if its for you is to actually try it.

wrldtraveller

adventurpix, true. That route has the most spectacular view in all of Canada. I drove that route on the way to visit my family in Edmonton. I think everyone should at least once either drive or bike that route. It also has the most (if biking) steep switchback road so it can be hard slog but worth the view.

adventurepdx

It's actually adventurepdx.

I didn't find the Icefields Pkwy particularly tough, though there are a few sections around Sunwapta Pass that are pretty steep.

But I think the thing I want to convey is that the best reason to tour the western half of Canada and the US is the landscape and wildness. We're not going to have the architecture or population of Europe, so one shouldn't get too hung up on that. But the scenery? Yeah! That's the reason why people from all over come and tour out here, including loads of Europeans.

I think you should still try your trip out to the coast. I think you'll like it!

wrldtraveller

Thanks. and sorry for misspelling your nick. It's in my mind and I will someday plan for it. probably ride to west coast, then maybe someday ride the pacific coast down to California. who knows.

MassiveD

That can mean one has drunk the koolaid which in large measure in NA is about trans ams/cans. It is a perfectly respectable idea that those are crap. Think about mountaineering. You could climb a lifetime in Yosemite, or in your neck of the woods. How would it work out for you if you insisted on rock climbing across canada, or the US, and moved camp 100 miles a day and did a new climb, that would be laughable, you could probably have a pretty decent golf vacation that way though. Just because riding a bike moves you sideways across the country a certain distance every day, doesn't make it a good idea.

Most people are not all that motivated, they can't stop themselves doing the things they like. In a recession, people do not stop spending on their hobbies, though they may be forced to cut back in many other areas. So make sure you really want to do the thing you are doing. There is still a lot of motivation required for touring, rain days, and all that other jazz. But the basic thing should not be in question. If I lived where you do I would be motivated to do offroad stuff.

If you want to do a trans, then I would not do all the interesting bits first. I have been to Banff, but cycling through the rockies would be something to shoot for. So I wouldn't do it first when I could do it as part of a larger trip, but I guess you can't help that.

As far as BC's glass towers as one mentioned. That has to be 20 square blocks, the rest would be pretty variable. No France one would have to admit. France is pretty special as it can tick almost any box, other than maybe big game hunting. I would be interested in a trans can largely to see the variety of the country and see it all at least as far as a particular line is concerned, but whether that is the best use of time is another mater.

One thing about cycle touring is that it is very expensive. At some levels it is freeish, mostly from the dirt bag end. The reason it can be expensive is that it takes one 6 times longer than in a car to get anywhere. Depending on how your economics work out the time in the field is a huge expense, even without lost income. I can drive from TO to the east coast in 1 day. That is 200 in gas, and a meal or so on the road, no hotel required, or I have a campground I use along the way for a two day. By bike it is about 2 weeks plus, done it twice. So if you used campgrounds that could be 300-500 just in fees there. My home expenses are fixed. If I am at home I get fed, etc... On the road it is extra. My wife gave me a rebate the first time, but never after. So is 2 or more months a good deal on the road to cross the prairies. I'm 56 and have anything from maybe no more years touring to maybe 20. It might be worth the airfare to got to France given the shortness of time and the cost of touring.

DropBarFan

Never been to BC nor done a long-distance tour. OTOH BC seems like a great area for touring--there are tons of BC touring companies online. TV/movies often filmed in BC, seems like lots of great mountain & lake scenery. Reading blogs about trans-Canada/trans-USA tours it seems rare to find folks who just get bored to tears. I dunno, I guess folks settle into the routine & enjoy logging the kilometers until the more scenic portions come around. Just depends on the personality eh?

wrldtraveller

True, thats what makes bike touring appealing, from what i've seen on youtube, you actually see more on a bicycle than you do in a car. I once drove down to Rapid City, South dakota, but Instead of using the Interstate, I used the small highway(single lane) and I saw ghost towns, small villages, met some nice people. So I am sure its similar to bicycling, you get to meet some cool people, see things that would zip by the window and you would never notice if you drove down on the interstate, and the view, I think on a bicycle, you get to see more. Not only that, while on a bicycle, you are not restricted to drive on the highways, but you can ride anywhere, on a trail, on a highway, on a small roads. So I guess I gotta plan for the trip someday, save some money, get a good touring bicycle, get the equipment that I might need and don't have.

W

Arkadee

For me the motivation is the ability to see so much more from a bicycle than from a car. A close second to that is the people you meet along the way. On my short tour last year I rode a part of BC which I have driven through a number of times but it was very different and far more enjoyable on the bike. I got to see sights that are normally only a blur from the car and actually met many locals who would not give another speeding tin can full of tourists a second glance.

As as for the scenery in BC and on the prairies, I would take it ahead of most of the world. Of course until you've seen a bit of the world, you can't judge for yourself and once you have seen it you are free to disagree. Truth be told, I would much rather see a moose on the side of a lake with a mountain in the background than yet another piece of man-made clutter regardless of when it was built or what materials were used.

Leebo

Impact? the people you meet as well as the sights and sounds. An adventure around every corner. I tour starting from my driveway, just pedal. make breakfast( oatmeal) buy lunch( a sandwich) cook dinner, grain+ some meat. Not that expensive for some. Stealth camp anyone? Just hang my hammock in the woods. Sure I do stay at some campsites, but not much $, maybe $ 20-30.00. I'm North of Boston, MA and have done most of the state, cape cod, southern NH and going to RI and CT this summer. Beats work or sitting in a car in traffic. Plus earning your beers.

mdilthey

What is this, a bike gang? Let's be encouraging, not rude...

Leebo

^^^ Rude? No. Motivation comes from within. Either it's there or not. Same as any outdoor adventure. Hiking, biking, paddling etc.

BigAura

Touring is probably one of the most elective activities that you'll engage in. There is no boss, authority, or family member commanding-pleading-cajoling you to go on a bike tour. The only reason to tour is because you want to. The motivation and desire must come from within or there's no reason to do it.

For me wanderlust is part of it, but so is the feeling of self-sufficiency, the physical challenge, but the sense of adventure is what I seek and find the most compelling.

mev

I've always found that the US states of Nebraska and Kansas are best seen either in excess of 100mph or at around 10mph. I also enjoyed riding Alberta/Saskatchewan/Manitoba on trip across Canada, etc.

There is a surprising amount of variety still when you go at 10mph. You aren't on the largest highways (which I do find monotonous - hence the 100mph comment) but instead you'll see and notice more subtle changes (e.g. huge change in KS as you cross the 100th meridian and elevation also drops) and more subtle things (e.g. kernels of wheat trapped in cracks of the road during harvest) and come through some interesting small towns or even remnants of towns. An extra bonus if you come through some of these towns on special days (e.g. fun memories of 4th of July in Peabody, KS or Delta, UT).